Total Complaints
5 filings
MACK CXU · model year
2009 MACK CXU
5 NHTSA complaints, and 3 active recalls for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2009MACKCXU carries 5 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2009 CXU is trailer hitches with 2 filings, followed by structure (1) and structure:frame and members (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 3 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.
NHTSA currently has 5 investigation files overlapping the 2009 CXU. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
5
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| TRAILER HITCHES | 2 |
| STRUCTURE | 1 |
| STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS | 1 |
| SUSPENSION | 1 |
Recalls (3)
11V20900031/03/2011
TRAILER HITCHES:FIFTH WHEEL ASSEMBLY
MACK TRUCKS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008-2011 CHU AND CXU HEAVY TRUCKS MANUFACTURED FROM JANUARY 2008 THROUGH JULY 2010. THERE MAY BE AN INTERFERENCE WITH THE BOLTS USED TO SECURE THE FIFTH WHEEL TO THE FRAME THAT CAN PREVENT THE BOLTS FROM BEING TORQUED TO SPECIFICATION.
14V07800021/02/2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Mack Trucks, Inc. (Mack) notified the agency on February 20, 2014, that they are recalling certain model year 2010-2012 CHU, CXU, GU and TD vehicles manufactured from June 16, 2009, through July 8, 2011. While continuing to research the scope of the issue, Mack expanded the recall on November 18, 2
12V43400006/09/2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
Mack is recalling certain model year 2007-2010 CHU and CXU vehicles, manufactured from October 13, 2006, through December 23, 2009 and equipped with daytime running lights and fog lights. A short in the fog light circuit may cause the low beam headlight circuit to cut out.
Recent Complaints
20110725SUSPENSION
ON TUESDAY, JULY 19 OF 2011, I OBSERVED THAT THE 5TH WHEEL BOLTS ON ABF UNIT NUMBER 19223 WERE LOOSE ENOUGH TO BE TURNED BY HAND. THE BOLTS ARE NOT BEING INTERFERED WITH BY THE HUCK RIVETS BELOW THEM. THE NUTS ARE PREVAILING TORQUE LOCK NUTS AND ARE NOT LOOSE ON THE BOLTS. THE BOLTS HAVE STRETCHED UNDER LOAD. I WAS GOING TO SHOW THE UNIT TO THE DIRECTOR OF MAINTENANCE, WHO HAPPENED TO BE IN OUR SHOP THAT DAY. UNFORTUNATELY, UNIT 19223 WAS SENT OUT BEFORE I COULD SHOW HIM. I DID, HOWEVER, MAKE A VIDEO OF ME TURNING THE LOOSE BOLT BY HAND. THIS IS ONLY ONE OF HUNDREDS OF ABF MACKS FROM 2009 AND 2010 THAT HAVE 5TH WHEEL BOLTS THAT ARE YIELDING UNDER LOAD.
Mileage: 303,175
20101003TRAILER HITCHES
SOME OF THE 2008, MANY OF THE 2009, AND ALMOST ALL OF THE 2010 MODEL MACK TRUCKS USED BY ABF FREIGHT SYSTEM WERE BUILT AND DELIVERED WITH WEAK BOLTS HOLDING THE 5TH WHEEL COUPLER TO THE FRAME. ON 27 SEPT 2010, UNIT 19212 WAS IN THE SHOP FOR ROUTINE REPAIRS. A MECHANIC NOTICED THAT ALL OF THE BOLTS ON THE RIGHT SIDE WERE LOOSE ENOUGH TO RATTLE IN THEIR HOLES AND THAT THE COUPLER WAS SLIDING AROUND ON THE FRAME. THE MANAGER INSTRUCTED US TO TIGHTEN THE BOLTS AND NOT TO REPLACE ANY UNLESS THEY STRETCHED. ALL OF THE BOLTS STRETCHED. ALL WERE REPLACED. *TR
20101003STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
SOME OF THE 2008, MANY OF THE 2009, AND ALMOST ALL OF THE 2010 MODEL MACK TRUCKS USED BY ABF FREIGHT SYSTEM WERE BUILT AND DELIVERED WITH WEAK BOLTS HOLDING THE 5TH WHEEL COUPLER TO THE FRAME. ON 27 SEPT 2010, UNIT 19212 WAS IN THE SHOP FOR ROUTINE REPAIRS. A MECHANIC NOTICED THAT ALL OF THE BOLTS ON THE RIGHT SIDE WERE LOOSE ENOUGH TO RATTLE IN THEIR HOLES AND THAT THE COUPLER WAS SLIDING AROUND ON THE FRAME. THE MANAGER INSTRUCTED US TO TIGHTEN THE BOLTS AND NOT TO REPLACE ANY UNLESS THEY STRETCHED. ALL OF THE BOLTS STRETCHED. ALL WERE REPLACED. *TR
20100923STRUCTURE
MY COWORKER WAS CHANGING THE OIL ON A 2009 MACK AND I HAPPENED TO NOTICE THAT THE 5TH WHEEL PLATE WAS SHIFTING AROUND ON THE FRAME. I APPLIED A BOX END WRENCH TO THE MOUNT BOLTS AND DISCOVERED THAT ALL TEN OF THE FASTENERS HOLDING THE 5TH WHEEL TO THE FRAME COULD BE TURNED EASILY USING ONE HAND. THAT IS NOT MY IDEA OF BEING SECURELY ATTACHED! NO ACTION WAS TAKEN ON THIS TRUCK BECAUSE IT WAS TIME TO GO HOME AND IF THE BOSS DOESN'T CARE AND MACK DOESN'T CARE WHAT CAN I DO EXCEPT COMPLAIN TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT MACK IS USING SUBSTANDARD BOLTS IN THE ASSEMBLY OF THEIR TRUCKS! THE 5TH WHEELS ARE LOOSE. MANAGEMENT DOESN'T WANT TO KNOW! BE VERY AFRAID ON THE HIGHWAYS MY FELLOW AMERICANS, YOU ARE MORE LIKELY TO DIE FROM A TRUCK ACCIDENT THAN YOU ARE FROM A TERRORIST ATTACK! *TR
Mileage: 179,708
20100923TRAILER HITCHES
MY COWORKER WAS CHANGING THE OIL ON A 2009 MACK AND I HAPPENED TO NOTICE THAT THE 5TH WHEEL PLATE WAS SHIFTING AROUND ON THE FRAME. I APPLIED A BOX END WRENCH TO THE MOUNT BOLTS AND DISCOVERED THAT ALL TEN OF THE FASTENERS HOLDING THE 5TH WHEEL TO THE FRAME COULD BE TURNED EASILY USING ONE HAND. THAT IS NOT MY IDEA OF BEING SECURELY ATTACHED! NO ACTION WAS TAKEN ON THIS TRUCK BECAUSE IT WAS TIME TO GO HOME AND IF THE BOSS DOESN'T CARE AND MACK DOESN'T CARE WHAT CAN I DO EXCEPT COMPLAIN TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT MACK IS USING SUBSTANDARD BOLTS IN THE ASSEMBLY OF THEIR TRUCKS! THE 5TH WHEELS ARE LOOSE. MANAGEMENT DOESN'T WANT TO KNOW! BE VERY AFRAID ON THE HIGHWAYS MY FELLOW AMERICANS, YOU ARE MORE LIKELY TO DIE FROM A TRUCK ACCIDENT THAN YOU ARE FROM A TERRORIST ATTACK! *TR
Mileage: 179,708
Compare 2009MACKCXU to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
PE20005Preliminary EvaluationClosed
mDrive Transmission Failure to Disengage
PE20003Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Vehicle Roll Away
PE10042Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Failing 5th wheel attachment bolts
PE08069Preliminary EvaluationClosed
AIR COMPRESSOR DISCHARGE LINE
PE02094Preliminary EvaluationClosed
INTEGRAL HUB AND BEARING ASSEMBLY
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 2009 MACK CXU have?▼
The 2009 MACK CXU has 5 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2009 MACK CXU?▼
Yes, the 2009 MACK CXU has 3 recall(s). The most common affected component is TRAILER HITCHES:FIFTH WHEEL ASSEMBLY. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2009 MACK CXU?▼
The most-complained component for the 2009 MACK CXU is TRAILER HITCHES with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include STRUCTURE and STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS.
Is the 2009 MACK CXU safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.